Forever young: women's age-defying bodies don't come cheap

The fight to remain young for many women starts as early as 40 years for some while for many others at 50 years. As they grow older and menopause checks in the fat gets redistributed around the waist. Many will turn to nutrition and gym to try and shift the fat others will turn to anti-ageing cream and supplements.

But the affluent ones will turn to surgery either at Nairobi Hospital, Mater Hospital, Karen Hospital or any other top-notch facility to get the perfect stomach and bikini body.

Dr Abdullahi Adan, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon and consultant confirms that indeed a growing number of women are taking this route.

At 30, Neema has had two cosmetic surgeries and is scheduled for another one in April at Aga Khan Hospital. “I was overweight at 100kg and decided to hit the gym,” she says.

Neema says her efforts paid off but her stomach was still big. “Belly fat is stubborn,” she says. “My stomach was hanging, which made me self-conscious,” Neema confesses. She decided to have a tummy tuck (a surgery procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and firmer).

Also, having lost 20kg she was left with what she described as unsightly hanging flab on her arms.

“When I gained consciousness from theatre, I could not cough or sneeze,” she narrates.

“The pain was unbearable,” she says. The following two weeks, Neema barely left her bed. She had to manage the wound with painkillers and antibiotics to avoid infection. The procedure cost her Sh500,000. She also had a liposuction on her arms as a bonus.

Neema has a scar across her tummy that stretches from hip to hip but is excited her tummy is flat. She will be going under the knife again in April for a butt lift (procedure to improve the appearance of the buttocks).

“I don’t fear operations,” she says. She, however, plans on getting two children by the next five years. But won’t pregnancy negate all the effort put into the tummy tuck? Neema says if her stomach hangs again, she will enquire on the available options.

Hellena, 37, has been taking Vitamin E tablets daily since the year began. “Everything I use now has anti-ageing properties,” she explains. “I use firming lotion on my breasts and anti-wrinkle crème on my eyes and hands,” confesses Hellena. She enrolled in the gym last year in a bid to lose weight and tone up her body.

“I’m done with getting babies, so now I need to reclaim my youth,” says the mum of two girls, 12 and eight.

“I want to feel younger, look hot and sexy,” says Hellena. She is happy as going to the gym is achieving results. “I look better naked!” However, Hellena is considering a breast augmentation as she says her breasts are sagging due to breastfeeding.

“I have already done my research. It ranges from about Sh300,000 to Sh1.2million, depending on where you have it done. If the gym talk is anything to go by, Hellena says that quite a number of women are considering altering parts of their bodies they don’t like. She says these women are quite resourceful on the available options as some have already undergone plastic surgery or are contemplating doing it.

Hellena watches what she eats and will occasionally take up ‘no wheat’ or ‘juicing’ challenges.

Fridah is turning 40 in July and her gift to herself will be a breast reduction. She wants to reduce her 36E cup to a C cup. “I grew up being bullied because I have always had big boobs,” says Fridah, who started wearing bras in Standard Five. She says 40 is a time for a rebirth for her. “I work hard and feel I should reward myself,” she says.

“It is a confidence booster and a feel good thing,” says Fridah. “I want my breast reduced and lifted,” she says. She is currently comparing costs in South Africa verses having the surgery done locally. She, however, is comfortable with the other parts of her body having lost 15kg with a popular weight loss programme. After a full body medical examination, Fridah was told that her sugars were borderline, which necessitated a total lifestyle change.

“I was advised to exercise and watch what I ate or else I would go into diabetic management by 41.

“I intend to look fabulous at 40,” she confesses.

Nasha weighs 97kg down from 118kg. She says that her breasts sagged after losing weight and as a result of breastfeeding. The mother of two, six and eight, says she’s done with child bearing and wants to take care of her body. Her ideal body weight is about 76 - 80kg but is afraid weight loss will come with more sagging.

“My husband doesn’t complain about my sagging breasts but it eats into my confidence,” says Nasha. “I’m a 40DD and my bra straps dig into my skin leaving black marks,” she says. A baker by profession, Nasha is forced to stand for long hours, which gives her back problems due to her heavy breasts. She is looking at a reduction and a breast lift and has already done her research on how the process is done. She shared her intentions with her husband who doesn’t think it was a priority.

She says it’s hard getting a well-fitting bra and is forced to ‘tuck’ in her boobs. “It is painful but I have to force my breasts in the bra. I also cannot stay without a bra as I find it embarrassing with my boobs hanging loosely all over,” she says.

Nasha established contact with a Dubai hospital via email, who she says have a cheaper package compared to our local costs. “They watch you for 14 days after the surgery and if any issue arises post surgery, they address it,” says Nasha.